Jordi Ruiz in action. Photo: Franzi Möller-Thbulls.
Spanish Paralympic star Jordi Ruiz has signed with the Just Better Care Roller Hawks, becoming the Illawarra wheelchair basketball club’s first international import in more than a decade — and the final piece in one of its most ambitious recruitment drives yet.
Ruiz, a three-time Paralympian, has played professionally across Europe for 18 years and is fresh off a championship winning year in Germany’s Bundesliga with RSB Thuringia Bulls.
“I always wanted to go down to Australia, since I started playing,” Ruiz said.
“The best players in Europe would go down there to play, so it was always a goal for basketball and for life experience.
“I’ve always played against Australian players on our national team, so I look forward to seeing how people down there understand basketball.”
He said he was looking forward to living the experience on and off the court.
“I’m just happy I’m going to be in a really good team,” he said.
“I’ve seen them win the title multiple times. Tristan (Knowles) told me they want to compete at a high level, so both things match perfectly.”
Knowles said the Roller Hawks, which competes in the National Wheelchair Basketball League, identified the need for an import at the conclusion of the 2024 season, a move compounded by the retirement of Nick Taylor.
“He very, very quickly went to the top of our short list of players who we wanted to go after,” Knowles said.
“The guy knows how to win. He’s won just about everything you can in Europe. He’s an absolute competitor.”
Knowles said it followed a resurgent national league in 2024 that saw several teams look beyond Australian shores for talent.
He said Ruiz would complement the depth already surrounding the team.
Club president Geoff Adams said bringing in a player of Ruiz’s calibre and experience would provide a boost to the club on and off the court.
“Firstly, I want to thank Tristan in particular who led this process, spoke with the players and assessed everyone who expressed interest,” he said.
“I also want to acknowledge those players for taking the time to reach out to us and give us a great group to choose from.”
He said he also thanked its sponsors who had helped put the club in a position to go after an import.
“Bringing a player like Jordi to our club is not just about the on-court results,” he said.
“I believe having a player of his experience is going to be great for the development of other players in the team.
“He’ll also spend time with our junior development players and be part of our community engagement while he’s here.
“His story of being a full-time professional athlete with a disability is very different to a lot of players here in Australia, so I look forward to seeing him share that with people throughout the Illawarra while he is here.”
Ruiz is the final piece of a recruitment campaign that has brought Australian squad members Jontee Brown and Tomas Klein to the team, along with the return of former NWBL champion Colin Smith and the additions of Ethan Hallak and Brian Gardner.
“Two weeks out from the start of the season is always an exciting time of year but I’d be lying if I said this season there wasn’t something different about it,” Knowles said.
The Just Better Care Roller Hawks’ season begins 27 June against the Manly Wheel Eagles in Manly, before a return game at Shellharbour City Stadium on 29 June.
Full fixtures can be found on the Roller Hawks’ website, or follow the competition, including stats and livestreams.
